Of thy own self

 

 

Today's Tids Issue 5,274 

Contrarianism is an art: 

 

 

“I saw an angel in the marble, and I carved away until it was free.” Michelangelo.  

 

It’s nice every once in a while, to reflect on how geniuses think. 

 

As an inducement to play Power Ball, the promoters were offering a chance to win a a Trip to the NYC Dick Clark New Year's Eve Gathering. Knowing my luck, I would probably win this worst prize of all.  

 

Today is National Family Day. Hmmm. Odd. Does that mean it’s ok to keep the kids home from school so families can enjoy each other? 

 

The Question: 

When was the first Transatlantic Telephone Cable opened to international calling?  

 

The Headlines: 

--Gloom Continues On WS; UK Market Sell-Off Should Weigh Heavily On Today’s US Markets 

--West Coast of Florida Preparing For Potential Big Hit From Ian. 

--Russia’s Nuke Drumbeat Making Western Leaders Nervous.  

--13 Dead, 21 Injured After Gunman Opens Fire On School In Russia.  

--Italy Elects Far Right Government. 

 

Car lovers of all ages and other identity classifications will be flocking here to for the Audraine Newport Concours & Motor Week. If you like historic and rare or super expensive cars this is the place to be for sure. I'll be cleaning the peanuts out of my front seat after a long trip home from vacation. And Cheeto dust off the steering wheel. That’s about as car crazy as I get. 

 

Today is National Compliance Officer Day. Should I be nervous.  

 

I think you have to tip your cowboy hat to Taylor Swift for declining the Super Bowl halftime entertainer spot. Taylor is too smart to go Ho-Hum. That’s my personal opinion and not the opinion necessarily of the entire Tids editorial staff.  

 

A newspaper article seems to be disparaging the wealthy who live in the higher ground away for the coast. Like this is something new in our society because of Climate Change. The wealthy for assorted reasons has always chosen to live on higher ground away from the sea. Until, of course, recently where peoepl will overpay to be close the cantankerous sea. Most things I read are filed with hypocrisy.  

 

Today is National Pancake Day. Yum. I haven't had pancake in years. Maybe today is that day for me 

 

In the TidsPickers column last Thursday I reluctantly uttered the old cliché, “Frankly, this week could be like what we have been seeing so far, that any team can win on any given weekend.” I also said, “I have to say, this entire slate could go either way. Really.” And just look at what happened.... upsets galore.  

 

You know things are bad when I start making excuses early. I wonder how the bookies and experts are doing? 

 

The media just loves to say “Far right” scoffingly.  

 

The Answer: 

Interestingly, the first Transatlantic telephone cable became active in 1956. That seems like yesterday ot me. How did we ever fight a great war without a telephone, much less satellite coverage and tweets?   

 

And finally, today is National Situational Awareness Day. That basically means that you have to look out for yourself, like if you are in a Pedestrian Crosswalk, you still have to look out for cars. It’s basically responsibly for your own self day. How to live without compliance officers.  

 

By the time the mudslinging ends in te first week of November, there won’t be any viable candidates left standing. That is just a sad fact of today's politics. 

 

The best thing about good old days is that we were neither good nor old.  

 

That is not a quote from a genius.